Imphal: Myanmar nationals currently languishing inside the detention centers in this border state have started hunger strikes demanding to release them.
Regarding this, Sorokhaibam Bhadrika, Superintendent of the Manipur Central Jail spoke to the newsmen at Imphal on Saturday and stated that the Manipur Jail authorities do not have the power to release them as they were penalized by the Court under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
The Jail SP also said that the detainees can be deported back to Myanmar only after getting thorough clarification from the Myanmar Embassy.
Regarding the demands for the detainees to be released in Moreh, India’s last border town in the Manipur sector with Myanmar on the south, where they were apprehended, and not to hand over them to Myanmar (Burma) authorities, the SP made it clear that these demands can’t be fulfilled as it is under the policy of the Government of Manipur and not under the Manipur Central Jail authority.
The SP further asserted that the detainees were being taken care of as per the rules and were provided with an adequate amount of uncontaminated water, both for drinking and other uses, even when water is scarce in the state.
He also said that the detainees could communicate with their families through video calls.
It is worth noting that as many as 5, 000 Myanmar nationals including women and children entering Manipur without valid documents are taking shelter at different detention centres in Manipur.